"Water Aerobics: The Ultimate Exercise for Slimming Your Waist"

Can One Low-Impact Exercise Reduce Waist Size and Weight?

If you're looking to trim down and tone up before hitting the beach this summer, there's one exercise you'll want to incorporate into your workout routine. The best part? It doesn't involve intense planks or endless crunches.

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ Open by researchers from South Korean and Chinese universities reviewed 10 weight loss studies conducted in various countries between 2009 and 2021. The studies involved 286 participants aged 20 to 70, most of whom exercised for an hour two to three times a week.

The researchers discovered that water aerobics, which includes activities like aqua Zumba, water yoga, and aqua jogging, had a significant impact on body weight and waist circumference, especially in women over 45 who committed to at least 10 weeks of consistent exercise.

Women who participated in water aerobics for 10 to 12 weeks experienced an average weight loss of 6.6 pounds and reduced their waist size by over an inch.

While the study did not find significant weight loss results in overweight middle-aged men, this could be due to the limited number of male participants. Additionally, the researchers did not have enough data to determine the effects of water aerobics on other factors like BMI, lean mass, fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio, and hip circumference.

Engaging in water aerobics is a fantastic way to exercise without stressing your body or aggravating existing injuries, unlike many land-based exercises. Research has shown that water workouts have the potential to reduce stress, enhance balance, and improve heart health, according to the AARP.

For those looking to slim down or improve their overall fitness, water-based exercises offer numerous benefits, especially for beginners. "Anyone starting an exercise routine should consider water aerobics as a great starting point," says Dr. Collin Kitchell, a family medicine physician at the Cleveland Clinic. "It's easy, fun, and reduces the risk of injuries due to the buoyancy of water."

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